After gathering data from the snake, Tiberius guided the group to three more animals: a species of bear, what seemed to be a moose, and finally a tiger nearly four meters long. By the time Erik was finishing up recording the tiger's data, the first rays of sunlight had begun to appear on the horizon. Looking up at the sky, the star-haired boy sent a sound transmission to his companions.
[This tiger is barely a Revealed-Novice at best. Let's take this chance to observe it until it wakes up.]
Once he was done, Erik turned to look at Zoe and Frank. Zoe nodded with a serious expression as she gripped the handle of her katana, while Frank clenched his fists and nodded with the same seriousness. Focusing his gaze on Frank, Erik sent a new sound transmission.
[Frank, I have a lot of trouble modifying a spell halfway through, so let's use this opportunity to try a team battle. Tell me roughly what spells you'd use in the fight, and I'll try to adapt as best I can.]
Although a little surprised by the limitation expressed by Direct Disciple Erik—who always seemed to know everything and be capable of anything—Frank quickly sent a sound transmission. In it, Frank explained his spells as best as he could, from their names and how they worked to even the runes he used. After thinking for a few seconds, Erik nodded and spoke in a calm tone.
[Perfect, now I have a general idea of what to do, but since I lack experience, this time you'll guide the spells, and I'll try to adapt along the way.] Turning his head to look at Zoe, Erik added.
[As for you, Zoe. You'll be the leader. I want to see firsthand how a knight fights in a team. So far, my only experience with a knight was the duel I participated in a few years ago.]
[… Alright, then I'll take the front. You and Frank will stay in the rear. For now, try to follow Frank—he has experience fighting in groups and can adapt to my movements.] Zoe quickly sent a sound transmission, her expression serious.
[Let's do it that way.] Erik sent a sound transmission in a calm tone, then looked at Tiberius at his side. After that, he glanced at Zoe again and asked.
[Do you need Tiberius to do anything special?]
[Not really. Just let him stay in the back with you.] Zoe shook her head and replied, then looked at the huge sleeping tiger nestled in a patch of leaves and added.
[The tiger is something we can handle without much trouble. It's better to use it so you can gain some combat experience.]
[Perfect.] Erik responded calmly, then turned to look at the tiger again while taking a quartz pendulum from his pants pocket.
At that moment, Zoe stepped forward to stand to Erik's left, her hand on the hilt of her katana, ready to attack at any moment. As Erik jotted down notes with an almost rhythmic movement, Zoe glanced at what he was writing with a hint of respect. The star-haired boy was just too clever; it had never even crossed her mind to do something like that.
But it was precisely that respect that made the young knight a bit uncomfortable. Although she hadn't thought it possible, now that she found herself in a situation where she wasn't the leader and didn't have control, a strange unease surrounded her. That discomfort pushed her to look for flaws in Erik, to undermine the legitimacy of his leadership.
So far, Zoe had managed to keep that discomfort in her heart, but at times it seemed almost impossible to control. Apparently, nearly two hundred years of always being the most important person in the room—second only to her grandfather—weren't something that logic and reason could easily overcome.
(…Focus, Zoe. Don't let your mind get out of control. The best warriors are those who master their mind as well as their body.)
After a silent self-rebuke, Zoe took a deep breath and got into a fighting stance—after all, the tiger had started to move. At that moment, Erik took a step back and looked at Tiberius. The black wolf immediately understood his contractor's intentions and deactivated his concealment.
Sensing the sudden appearance of intruders, the tiger sprang to its feet and let out a powerful roar that made the air vibrate. Along with the roar, the tiger's fur stood on end, and at the tip of each hair, a small droplet of water condensed. With barely perceptible speed, all the water gathered and surged toward the young people like a destructive wave—almost like a miniature tsunami.
In that instant, Zoe made three hand signs with her left hand, which was still on the sheath of her katana, while her right hand gripped the handle tightly. As soon as she finished the signs, Zoe shot forward at an incredible speed, vanishing from sight for a moment. While Erik's eyes in the back widened a bit in surprise, the enormous wave was suddenly split in two, and at that moment, Zoe's melodious and calm voice rang out.
"Silent Tempest."
As the wave split, Erik and Frank were able to see what was on the other side, finding a fog filled with dew and half-condensed water droplets. Extending his hand forward, Frank conjured several spells, and air quickly gathered in front of his hand, forming a sphere of compressed air. At that moment, the young man announced in a calm voice.
"Expansive Pressure."
The sphere shot forward, piercing through the fog, then exploded in a powerful shockwave that instantly cleared the visibility. At that moment, Erik raised his right hand forward, holding one of his machetes, and a magic circle formed in front of him, from which a large number of arrows made of solidified Myst shot out. At the same time, Erik looked at Frank and asked curiously.
"Why say the name of the spell?"
"You don't use mental triggers, boss?" Frank asked back, a surprised expression on his face. "They're really useful for automating spells and speeding up casting. Plus, in group battles, they're used to communicate what you're doing to the rest of the team."
"Well, I read something about that once, but I didn't pay much attention." Erik replied as he turned to look forward. Fixing his gaze on the tiger ahead, he asked.
"So, should I say, 'Myst Arrows'?"
"…"
Frank fell silent as he looked at the massive tiger in front of them, which was now completely surrounded by a sort of armor made of swirling water. The strong currents of the water armor caused Erik's Myst arrows to deflect without touching it. In that instant, the tiger leaped, while three spheres of water formed around its head.
When the tiger rose to nearly four meters in height, the water spheres around it began to release thin, high-pressure streams of water, cutting through everything in their path. With a casual movement, Erik created a magic circle above himself and Frank, which conjured up a prismatic crystal barrier to protect them. With an uncertain voice, Erik commented, trying to search his memories.
"What was it called… 'Prism Aegis'? No, that was the name of the original light spell."
"Why not call it 'Prismatic Myst'?" Ebonique asked calmly from within Erik's hair.
"Sounds good. From now on, this spell is called 'Prismatic Myst'." Erik nodded in satisfaction, commenting as he watched the tiger's high-pressure water jets clash against the barrier, causing small fractures.
For his part, Frank watched, somewhat speechless, as the star-haired young man casually chatted with his contracted spirit, showing not the slightest hint of pressure or even seriousness. At that moment, Zoe's voice once again rang in their ears.
"Zero Pressure Abyss."
Sheathing her sword after a circular slash, Zoe—who was a few meters behind the tiger—announced calmly. Zoe's attack caused the air to collapse at a single point just beneath the tiger, creating a vacuum that sucked away much of the water armor protecting it. In that instant, Zoe gave a firm order.
"Attack."
"Boss, let's do a joint attack!" Frank quickly commented in a serious tone, stretching his hand forward to conjure several runes and announcing as he created a tornado of slicing wind that shot toward the tiger.
"Tempest Fang!"
"Fireball."
Watching Frank's tornado, Erik announced as he pointed at the tiger with his right machete. Several runes formed around his machete, conjuring a huge fireball that shot toward the tornado, aiming to combine and create a fire tornado. Soon, the fireball merged with the tornado and started to form a flaming whirlwind.
But after just a few moments, the fire began to consume the tornado, growing excessively large and distorting before collapsing in on itself. As a result, only a warm breeze reached the tiger—an outcome that somehow created an awkward silence, where even the tiger looked at the young mages with a skeptical expression.
"Dragonfly's Whisper."
With a sigh, Zoe performed three hand signs and announced. In that instant, the beautiful knight began to move around the area at an incredible speed, leaving behind multiple afterimages that looked like clones of herself, thoroughly confusing the tiger.
"Boss… How about you cast the spell first...?" Frank asked in an awkward tone as he watched Zoe's afterimages fill the area. Erik nodded and replied with some amusement.
"Looks like that's for the best."
The tiger, which was beginning to descend, started to recreate its water armor while simultaneously attacking Zoe's afterimages with high-pressure water jets. Each afterimage that was hit exploded into swirling counter-winds. At that moment, Erik raised his machete again and, conjuring new runes, created another fireball that shot toward the tiger.
"Fireball."
"Tempest Fang!"
Frank quickly conjured runes and launched a new tornado of slicing wind, which ended up engulfing the fireball. Unlike the first time, the fireball inside the tornado successfully ignited the air, creating a swirling tornado of cutting flames that struck the tiger head-on, creating a massive cloud of steam and bloody mist. At that instant, Zoe jumped and rose nearly three meters into the air.
While in the air, Zoe took a stance to draw her katana, simultaneously making four hand signs with her left hand. With an incredibly fast movement, Zoe drew her katana and sheathed it again, announcing in a calm voice.
"Tempest Guillotine."
With the sound of the guard striking the sheath, the steam split in two, revealing the tiger once more. The tiger was completely motionless, without its water armor and missing more than half of its fur, while the left side bore terrifying charred wounds.
As soon as Zoe landed on the ground, she began to walk casually toward Erik and Frank, turning her back on the tiger. As she approached, she commented in a calm voice while looking at Erik.
"We need to work a lot on those combined spells, Erik. I think you should ask Elara for some advice."
"I'll do that." Erik nodded calmly, just as the tiger's head detached from its body, falling to the ground while its neck gushed out huge amounts of blood.
"Should we take the tiger for dinner?" Frank asked as he looked at the dead tiger on the ground. Erik glanced at the tiger for a moment, then replied.
"It's pretty damaged. When we check on the basilisk, we can take another look—if it's still here, we'll take it; if not, we can find something else."
After the two young people nodded in agreement, Erik gave the order to move out, and they made their way toward the waterfall. Once they arrived, Zoe looked at the beautiful landscape with a serious expression, her hand tightly gripping the hilt of her katana. Meanwhile, Frank couldn't help but swallow nervously and awkwardly touch his neck.
"Well, let's go in." At that moment, Erik gave the order in a calm tone, then created a Myst platform beneath everyone as Tiberius once again covered them in shadow.
…
Arriving before the colossal sleeping beast, Zoe felt a shiver run through her body from head to toe. Clenching her fists tightly so they wouldn't tremble, Zoe took a deep breath and then looked at Erik. With casual movements, the star-haired young man approached the basilisk without fear and began recording observations in his notebook slowly and methodically, always making sure to show them every step he took.
Although Erik was making a great effort, Zoe, with such a monstrous creature in front of her, couldn't focus at all. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst, and her body was starting to be covered in a subtle layer of cold sweat. She, the great warrior, granddaughter and disciple of one of the strongest Master-levels in the galaxy, was afraid of a sleeping beast.
(How can this be?! I'm afraid?! Me, Zoe Laverne, am I afraid?!)
Feeling deeply ashamed, Zoe bit her tongue, trying to summon the courage to step forward and stand next to Erik, who was moving just a few meters from the basilisk without a care in the world. But, even as a metallic taste filled her mouth, Zoe couldn't move her feet; it was almost as if they were glued to the ground, unable to budge even a millimeter.
(Impossible! No matter what happens, even in the face of death, a warrior must step forward and protect what is important! I can't just stay here! No matter what, I can't allow myself that luxury!)
Now feeling more anger at herself than shame, Zoe clenched her teeth until they ground together, her face red with effort as she tried to force herself to take a step forward. She had to step up—even if it was just one step—or her pride wouldn't allow her to keep living the way she always had. But just at that moment, Zoe felt a gentle pressure on her shoulder, causing her to turn and look.
As she turned, Zoe found Erik looking at her with an expression somewhere between worried and solemn, almost as if he were silently asking if she was okay. Feeling a wave of embarrassment—knowing that Erik had seen such a pathetic side of her—Zoe wobbled a little, prompting Erik to steady her by holding her arm.
But instead of looking at Erik, Zoe looked down at her feet, realizing that, without meaning to, she had taken that step forward that only moments ago had seemed almost impossible.
At that moment, Zoe saw one of Erik's arms move behind her knees, as if he was about to lift her up, so she quickly turned and grabbed his shoulder. Zoe looked into Erik's green eyes with a serious expression and a determined light shining in her own, which seemed to reassure the star-haired young man. After looking at her a couple more times, as if to confirm she was alright, Erik walked over to Frank.
The young man stood completely still, not moving a single muscle, which made Zoe a bit worried. Standing in front of Frank, Erik placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle shake, then snapped his fingers softly in front of him. Coming back to himself a bit, Frank shook his head, then bowed deeply in apology.
Letting out a small sigh, Erik pointed toward the exit, indicating it was time to leave. With a serious expression, Zoe took a somewhat shaky step forward, then looked into Erik's eyes again, wanting to convey the words she couldn't say—not even with a sound transmission, since that might alert the basilisk and cause it to attack instinctively.
{Let's keep going.}
Glancing between the determined Zoe and Frank, who clenched his fists and looked at him with resolve, Erik let out a sigh. Taking his notebook once more, Erik stepped forward, but at that moment, he felt Zoe's hands on his arm. Turning to look at her, Erik saw her taking a step forward, a slightly curious expression on her face—a mix of disbelief and embarrassment.
Guessing that she just wanted to appear brave but was actually frozen with fear, Erik said nothing and simply approached the basilisk again to continue recording data. Zoe followed beside Erik, gripping his arm tightly, her gaze shifting between the basilisk and the star-haired young man. Meanwhile, Frank trailed a couple of meters behind them, still visibly terrified.
Though Zoe's grip on Erik's arm grew tighter and more intimate with every step they took closer to the basilisk, she continued to walk at his side with steady, solid steps. But even though her steps were firm, her mind was in complete chaos.
The young lady was experiencing, for the first time in her life, a mix of emotions and sensations that heated her body like an oven, even causing a slight and inconvenient dampness.
Meanwhile, very well hidden among Erik's hair, Ebonique watched Zoe clinging to her beloved contractor with an expression full of disgust. Although she could occasionally lend her Erik to Ignis's contractor, the maid, and that other woman with golden eyes, that was only because they had known him first and took care of him when she couldn't.
In other words, any other woman—especially a mere human—was not worthy of getting so close and familiar with her Erik. If it weren't for the aura of that bastard filling the whole place, she would have already taught that little girl a good lesson about respecting what belongs to others.
Burying herself even deeper in Erik's hair, full of frustration, Ebonique added another ten thousand years of torture to the punishment she planned to give that collector bastard when she had the chance.
…
After a while, Erik finally finished recording everything he needed, so he put his notebook away in the back of his pants and looked at his companions. While Frank was quite pale and completely covered in sweat, Zoe had a slight blush on her face, and her expression showed a hint of excitement—almost as if she had just gotten off a terrifying roller coaster.
Pointing toward the exit, Erik started walking toward the tunnel, so Zoe and Frank followed close behind, while Tiberius quickly leapt ahead to lead the way. Soon, the group passed through the waterfall again, which snapped Zoe out of her daze and brought her back to reality. Letting go of Erik's arm with her face completely red, Zoe coughed awkwardly a couple of times, stepped away, and commented in a strange voice.
"Sorry, Erik. I couldn't control myself and showed a pathetic side of me."
"Don't worry, it's only natural." Erik replied with a calm smile. "That basilisk is pretty terrifying."
"I felt like I was dying every time that thing breathed…" Frank said heavily, collapsing onto the Myst platform. Erik looked at the young man and said.
"Well, you almost did die the first time you saw it, so that's normal too." Looking ahead again, Erik added in a calm tone.
"For now, we've accomplished our goal. In the afternoon we'll see if you really can't adapt to the fear and need to look for other options. For now, let's go make a cauldron."
***
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